And one more I just remembered, Al Stewart's "Strange Girl"; I'm not sure how well played it ever was, but I always enjoyed it, even if it sounded a little too much like some of my relatives.
Amusingly, while I listen to lots of K-pop for listening practice and dislike much of it, the only dissing song I can think of is by one of my least favorite groups, Girls' Generation, and recently covered by another of my least favorites, Red Velvet. It's okay for what it is, and is the most listenable thing by either group to my ears.
You’re amazing. Your articles are so diverse. I’m finding myself looking forward to Thursdays just to see what you’re writing about next! You realize you are setting a high bar for yourself, right?
Speaking of lyrics that irritate me, mine would be this couplet from ABBA's "Winner Takes It All":
The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
They simply had to change "a" to "the" and it would be perfectly grammatical, but no, they had to go and irk me, which was probably just gravy for them. :)
Another excellent column, Max. I can't imagine the amount of work it took to put all of that comprehensive piece together so seamlessly. It is very well done, informative, and entertaining.
I especially enjoyed the McArthur Park portion, and your references to Susan's analysis of it. I do remember the first time I heard it, and immediately concluded that song writer was either on Acid when he wrote it, or was writing about a bad trip.
I'd love to expound further, but I'm so thoroughly depressed and distracted by the events of last night that I could not do your work the justice it deserves. You are doing great work here, with Steve. Your articles are eclectic. So your range is simply amazing.
I know what you mean about last night, Tony. It's long past time for the State Department, the DOJ and the FBI to put these haters out of the misery of their hate cults. Let the Democrats and the legacy media squeal.
Thank you, dear friend. I thought that October 7th had set a bar of grief and wretchedness so high that the "little things" would not affect me as badly. But I was wrong. There is nothing "little" about that beautiful couple, about to be engaged, married, probably producing many beautiful children -- just being wiped off the face of the earth by another loser monster. Susan
Susan, I was already on the verge of tears before I read this. I feel exactly the same--and for the same reason. Not just that savagery has occurred, but that the innocent were not only not spared but were targeted. Not just that it happened where it did, but that those in charge of protecting them failed in their duty. God bless. Am Yisrael chai!
When I would do my extended bit about MacArthur Park at a gig, inevitably some very offended woman would come up to me afterward to tell me that that was her favorite song...Susan
hahahaha. Sometimes, the most logical explanation is the best one. See: also, In La Gada Da Vida! A veteran DJs ability to turn it "off" and "on" when that red light goes on is nothing short of amazing. I was a frequent guest on with a popular woman broadcaster on WCCO back in the 80s and 90s. Her normal language could make a sailor blush, but the minute she was "on" she was just sweet as pie. I was a great admirer! And I thought, "Surely she is going to slip up one of these days. You know, like the punchpress guy who disables the safety mechanisms to go faster, and suddenly has fewer fingers. But she never did!" Susan
Ah, my late great Jimmy was kinda right out front with that one. At one time it was the #1 Jukebox song in bars in America! Golly, I miss him. Not for that one, which I always thought was childish, but for his massive oeuvre. Saw him three times in concert, always an experience. AG
Maybe. But I first heard that song on the car radio while driving down 4th Street SE in Minneapolis, away from the former site of that coffeehouse. Naturally, that's what I thought of. :)
I guess speculation can go both directions. Here's just one part of Wiki, re "Positively 4th St." (recorded late summer 1965 & probably written shortly prior) :
======
This area [of Manhattan] was central to the burgeoning folk music scene of the early 1960s, which centered around Dylan and many other influential singer-songwriters.[26] For example, Gerde's Folk City was originally located at 11 West 4th Street. However, the song also may concern Dylan's stay at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where 4th Street S.E. is one of the two main roads crossing through the part of campus known as Dinkytown, where Dylan lived and performed.[25] ...
The song is generally assumed to ridicule Greenwich Village residents who criticized Dylan for his departure from traditional folk styles ...
=======
BTW, I don't really buy that last sentence of the above. It
The nastiness of the intent of the lyrics sounds more personal (friends, lovers, agents etc).
There's nothing of love that's not already said
either hearts neon blue or valentine's red
for hundreds of years and in such countless ways
a thousand pens poised to write another cliche!
And one more I just remembered, Al Stewart's "Strange Girl"; I'm not sure how well played it ever was, but I always enjoyed it, even if it sounded a little too much like some of my relatives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhCGWMdd54Q
And then there's this classic in jazz, or what should be a classic, but maybe it cut too close to home among its audience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8uZ5vmf1p0
Amusingly, while I listen to lots of K-pop for listening practice and dislike much of it, the only dissing song I can think of is by one of my least favorite groups, Girls' Generation, and recently covered by another of my least favorites, Red Velvet. It's okay for what it is, and is the most listenable thing by either group to my ears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_gfD3nvh-8
You’re amazing. Your articles are so diverse. I’m finding myself looking forward to Thursdays just to see what you’re writing about next! You realize you are setting a high bar for yourself, right?
Everything about this was funny the songs were great.Maybe not Steely Dan personal choice but the rest great funny.
Total rejection at its finest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to-RVV_3anw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugTaKCD64Ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to-RVV_3anw
Top Comment
@tomhoffmann6442
1 year ago
The Byrds were so good and great as I have so many of their enjoyable song efforts memories!
Speaking of lyrics that irritate me, mine would be this couplet from ABBA's "Winner Takes It All":
The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
They simply had to change "a" to "the" and it would be perfectly grammatical, but no, they had to go and irk me, which was probably just gravy for them. :)
Hm. I wish you had included "A Simple Desultory Phillipic," by Simon and Garfunkel, a song that goes straight after Dylan himself:
"I know a man his brain so small
Couldn't think of nothin' at all
Not the same as you and me
He doesn't dig poetry. He's so unhip
That when you say DYLAN,
He thinks you're talkin' about DYLAN THOMAS
Whoever he was
The man ain't got no culture
But it's alright, Ma
Everybody must get stoned."
There isn't room for all. I just picked a few which came immediately to mind. :)
"Not the same as you and me" refers back to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E3ODsSRY6k
I considered that one; John was actually writing about himself.
Refreshing in not claiming or implying superiority for himself.
Another excellent column, Max. I can't imagine the amount of work it took to put all of that comprehensive piece together so seamlessly. It is very well done, informative, and entertaining.
I especially enjoyed the McArthur Park portion, and your references to Susan's analysis of it. I do remember the first time I heard it, and immediately concluded that song writer was either on Acid when he wrote it, or was writing about a bad trip.
I'd love to expound further, but I'm so thoroughly depressed and distracted by the events of last night that I could not do your work the justice it deserves. You are doing great work here, with Steve. Your articles are eclectic. So your range is simply amazing.
Hopefully, life will be simpler next week.
I know what you mean about last night, Tony. It's long past time for the State Department, the DOJ and the FBI to put these haters out of the misery of their hate cults. Let the Democrats and the legacy media squeal.
The judges who give violent haters a free pass need to be disciplined.
Thank you, dear friend. I thought that October 7th had set a bar of grief and wretchedness so high that the "little things" would not affect me as badly. But I was wrong. There is nothing "little" about that beautiful couple, about to be engaged, married, probably producing many beautiful children -- just being wiped off the face of the earth by another loser monster. Susan
Susan, I was already on the verge of tears before I read this. I feel exactly the same--and for the same reason. Not just that savagery has occurred, but that the innocent were not only not spared but were targeted. Not just that it happened where it did, but that those in charge of protecting them failed in their duty. God bless. Am Yisrael chai!
MacArthur Park was my signal to turn off the radio immediately.
When I would do my extended bit about MacArthur Park at a gig, inevitably some very offended woman would come up to me afterward to tell me that that was her favorite song...Susan
That's actually a good thing. You immediately know that you might not be making a new friend.
How about the TV?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQIJUC2DYrg
I recall reading that the REAL reason MacArthur Park got the air play it did was the length. It allowed the DJ to go to the can, without rushing.
hahahaha. Sometimes, the most logical explanation is the best one. See: also, In La Gada Da Vida! A veteran DJs ability to turn it "off" and "on" when that red light goes on is nothing short of amazing. I was a frequent guest on with a popular woman broadcaster on WCCO back in the 80s and 90s. Her normal language could make a sailor blush, but the minute she was "on" she was just sweet as pie. I was a great admirer! And I thought, "Surely she is going to slip up one of these days. You know, like the punchpress guy who disables the safety mechanisms to go faster, and suddenly has fewer fingers. But she never did!" Susan
Back then, there were many long album tracks that would have sufficed.
Not in 68 on AM radio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIqwzQ7g-Cc 1967
I stand Corrected.
In fairness to you, not many AM stations did long cuts. WBZ Boston was one exception.
https://www.mmone.org/a-tribute-to-the-real-father-of-classic-rock-radio/
68 I was at Osan ROK, so all we got was A.F.R.
Yes--why plague the world with that one?
I find that bands generally sing about love. Rappers and pop tarts sing about sex.
A staple of rock and r&b is singing love while meaning sex.
Perhaps. But when the lyrics are like do it to me, do me, make me come, etc. I think we aren’t really talking about love at all.
That's just a blatant example. Others often say it more disceetly while meaning the same thing.
Oh, discreet as in "Why don't we get drunk and scr*w?"
Ah, my late great Jimmy was kinda right out front with that one. At one time it was the #1 Jukebox song in bars in America! Golly, I miss him. Not for that one, which I always thought was childish, but for his massive oeuvre. Saw him three times in concert, always an experience. AG
A song of satire that, 60 years later, invades scorn, is National Brotherhood Week, by Tom Lehrer.
Hi Max.
I always thought Dylan was referring to Manhattan's West 4th, where it meets Sixth Ave, and the major subway station there.
It's just few minutes' walk from there to the West Village and all the ancient coffee houses.
Maybe. But I first heard that song on the car radio while driving down 4th Street SE in Minneapolis, away from the former site of that coffeehouse. Naturally, that's what I thought of. :)
I remember Dinkytown. Not that I had much time (or money!) for evenings out, since I was doing my cardiology fellowship at U of M.
I guess speculation can go both directions. Here's just one part of Wiki, re "Positively 4th St." (recorded late summer 1965 & probably written shortly prior) :
======
This area [of Manhattan] was central to the burgeoning folk music scene of the early 1960s, which centered around Dylan and many other influential singer-songwriters.[26] For example, Gerde's Folk City was originally located at 11 West 4th Street. However, the song also may concern Dylan's stay at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where 4th Street S.E. is one of the two main roads crossing through the part of campus known as Dinkytown, where Dylan lived and performed.[25] ...
The song is generally assumed to ridicule Greenwich Village residents who criticized Dylan for his departure from traditional folk styles ...
=======
BTW, I don't really buy that last sentence of the above. It
The nastiness of the intent of the lyrics sounds more personal (friends, lovers, agents etc).
The song is definitely personal, that's for sure.
If it's scorn you want Max, Rodriguez had it:
Soon you know I'll leave you
And I'll never look behind
'Cos I was born for the purpose
That crucifies your mind
I was surprised that for Steely Dan you didn't use their "tribute" to John Lennon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIqwzQ7g-Cc
I'm trying figure out your motive for giving us the wrong link, or was it a genuine mistake?
Clearly it was an act of chaotic evil to upset the apple cart!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06a19-S77F4